Ex-lawyer who pocketed fees gets three years in prison

Former lawyer Kyle Leftwich, who was convicted of keeping fees from social security cases she was expected to share with her partners, was sentenced to more than three years in prison. But Henrico County Circuit Judge L.A. Harris Jr. allowed her to remain free pending appeals.

Leftwich was convicted in September of embezzling $450,000 from the Richmond law firm of Marks & Harrison, where she worked as an associate. She has since returned the money to the firm.

Judge Harris sentenced Leftwich to four years in prison on each of eight embezzlement convictions, but suspended all but five months on each one, reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Defense lawyer Craig S. Cooley will focus the appeal on his argument that Leftwich’s actions were a breach of contract with the firm, not embezzlement.